Apparatus for forming pile braid



DEC 12, 1967 c. J. GREENSPAN APPARATUS FOR FORMING PILE BRAID 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l, 1965 INVENTOR. CARL J. GREENSPAN ZW A EMMA/WM TTO NEYS Dec. 12, 1967 c. J. GREENSPAN 3,357,297

APPARATUS FOR FORMING PILE BRAID Filed June l, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El Q 5 INVENTOR. CARL J. G/QEE/vs/JAN BY g T ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,357,297 APPARATUS FR ERMING PILE BRAID Carl .1. Greenspan, 6212 Murietta Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91401 Filed .inne 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,074 4 Claims. (Cl. 87-34) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus is described for forming a double figure eight pile braid. The apparatus includes a table having a top plate provided with a guide way of double figure eight configuration in which a plurality of carriers are mounted for movement by a suitable drive means. The carriers are adapted to receive a bobbin of yarn to be braided and a mandrel is mounted on the table in a position to have alternate central loops of the figure eight interlaces of the braid wrapped therearound to enlarge the same. A strand cutter wheel severs the central alternate loops to provide a cut pile integral with the braid.

Disclosure This invention relates to braid having pile formed on a face thereof, and is more particularly directed to apparatus for making braid having an integral pile.

Pile braid and a method of making same are disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 460,073, filed June l, 1965. Briefly, the pile braid is formed by a plurality of intertwined strands extending in a braided pattern of a repeating sequence of interlaces. Each interlace includes a pair of spaced outer end loops terminating inwardly at a pair of strand crossover points from which the strands extend to define at least one central loop therebetween. In the preferred embodiment, the interlaces are in the form of a double figure eight and thus have a single central loop between crossover inner terminations of a pair of outer end loops. In general respects, the resulting braided pattern is thus that which is conventionally termed a president braid. However, in the formation of a pile on one surface of the braid, the conventional pattern is modified by enlarging the central loops of alternate ones of the interlaces during the braiding process to extend one side portion of the enlarged loops from a surface of the braid. The extended side portions of the enlarged loops may then be cut to provide a cut pile which is integral with the braid.

It is of course desirable that pile braid of the type outlined above be made in an automatic manner in order that the manufacturing costs thereof may be held to a reasonable amount.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for automatically makin-g braid having a cut pile which is integral therewith.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pile braid forming machine which is of relatively simple design and may in large part be provided as an adaptation of conventional braiding machines.

It is a further object of the invention to provide pile braid forming apparatus which is readily adjustable in the depth of the cut pile that is formed.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of pile braid forming apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view on an enlar-ged scale of the pile forming portion of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the pipe forming portion of the apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating a modification of the pile forming portion of the apparatus.

Considering now the invention in some detail, and referring to the illustrated form thereof in the drawings, there will be seen to be provided pile braid forming apparatus which is arranged to intertwine a plurality of strands to form a braid in a substantially conventional manner, while extending and cutting certain loops of the succession of braided interlaces as they are formed to provide an integral cut pile. In the accomplishment of the foregoing the apparatus in basic respects includes mandrel means and braiding mechanism of a substantially conventional type for conveying a plurality of strands along predetermined paths in such a manner that the strands are intertwined to form a braid extending adjacent the mandrel. The type of braid formed is of a conventional type comprising a .succession of interlaces each having at least one central loop interposed between a pair of outer end loops, e.g., a president braid which has interlaces of double figure eight configuration thereby defining a single central loop. A significant departure from conventional braiding mechanism resides in the inclusion therein of means arranged to extend alternate ones of said strands about the mandrel means inthe formation of the central loop of the corresponding braid interlace. In this manner, the central loops of alternate interlaces are enlarged about the mandrel means while the remaining alternate interlaces are formed adjacent the mandrel means in a conventional manner without extension and enlargement of their central loops. In addition means are provided for advancing the braid subsequent to formation along a path adjacent the mandrel means, the enlarged central loops extending about the mandrel means being simultaneously translated therealong. Cutter means adjacent the mandrel means sever the enlarged loops translated therealong to thus form'the integral cut pile. v

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, a preferred structural arrangement of the pile braid forming apparatus outlined above will be seen to include a table 11 having a top plate 12 provided with a guide-way 13 of preferably double figure eight configuration. In this regard, the guide way has a pair of outer loops 14, 16 and a central loop 17 interposed therebetween, the outer loops being respectively merging with the central loop at crossover points 1S, 19. A plurality of carriers 21 are mounted in upright position for movement through the guideway, there being eight carriers in the illustrated embodiment. Drive means (not shown) vare vprovided to translate the carriers 21 simultaneously along the guideway with successive carriers following the path indicated by arrows 22 in sequence. Each carrier thus traverses the outer loop 14 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, then traverses crossover point 18 to traverse the forward portion 23 of the central loop 17 in a counterclockwise direction. Each carrier then traverses the crossover point 19 to enter outer loop 16 and traverse same in a clockwise direction. Crossover point 19 is again traversed and the rearward portion 24 of the central loop is traversed in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon the crossover point 1S is traversed and the carrier enters outer loop 17 to repeat the cycle.

Each of the carriers 21 includes a base 26 from which an upright axle 27 extends to receive a bobbin 28 of yarn or other strand 29. In addition, an upright guide post 31 projects upwardly from the base of each carrier adjacent the periphery thereof. Each guide post is formed with a dispensing eye 32 at its upper end, and a feed D through aperture intermediate its length. A tensioning member 33 is slidably mounted upon each guide post, and the strand 29 from the bobbin carried by the corresponding carrier extends through the feed through apert-ure, under the tensioning member and upwardly through the dispensing eye in a manner subsequently described.

The apparatus further includes a plurality of upright dispensing tubes 34, 36, 37 for core tibers or elements 38. Tube 34 is mounted upon the table 11 at a position within the central loop 17 while tubes 36, 37 are mounted substantially centrally of the outer loops 14, 16. Tubes 36, 37 are provided with arcuate tubular guide members 39, 41 which extend slightly upwardly, inwardly, .and rearwardly to positions on a line longitudinally of the table and intersecting the axis of tube 34. The terminations of the guide members 39, 41 are equally longitudinally spaced on opposite sides of the axis of tube 34. Guide rods 42, 43 (FIGURE 4) project from a bracket 44 mounted, as by means of elevated support structure 46, secured to the table. The guide rods project transversely of the terminal ends ofthe guide members 39, 41, in slightly elevated relation thereto, as best .shovtm in FIGURE 4. The core elements 38 dispensed from guide members 39, 41 extend under the guide rods 42, 43 and vertically upward therefrom in parallel relation to the core element dispensed from tube 34 and in longitudinal alignment therewith.

The vertically extending core elements 38 pass over a guide roll 47 (FIGURE 3) secured to bracket 44 and in a reverse S path about and between a pair of overlying pinch rolls 48, 49 mounted upon the support structure 46. The pinch rolls are contra rotated by drive lmeans (not shown) to thereby function as .feed or pull means for advancing the core 'elements in parallel relation along an upwardly extending path originating adjacent the vguide rods 42, 43.

The strands 2.9 extending upwardly through the eyes 32 of the carrier guide posts 31 are initially secured to `the core elements 38 adjacent the point of origin of the previously noted upwardly extending path thereof. Thus the strands are pulled upwardly with the core elements. However, during the upward advance of the core elements and strands, the carriers are moving `in the previously noted path through the guideway 13. As a result, the strands and core elements are intertwined to form a braid of a succession of interlaces, each of a double figure eight configuration including a central loop interposed between a pair of outer end loops. By appropriate correlation of the speeds of the pinch rolls 48, 49 and carriers 21 in moving along the g-uideway 13, the braid interlaces may be made to form adjacent the origin of the upwardly extending path of advance of the core elements. To the extent described to this point, the braiding apparatus is generally conventional, and therefore further details thereof are not set forth herein.

Considering now the particularly salient aspects of the braiding apparatus of the invention in the formation of an integral pile on one surface of .the braid, a mandrel 51 is secured to the bracket 44 at a location adjacent the upwardly extending path of the intertwined strands 29 and core elements 38. The longitudinal axis of the mandrel is substantially aligned with the Vertical, and the mandrel has a substantially elliptical cross section. The mandrel is disposed between the aforementioned upwardly extending path of intertwined strands and core elements, and the forward portion 23 of the central loop 17 of guideway 13. More particularly, one side 52 of the mandrel is immediately adjacent the path, and the lower end of the mandrel is substantially directly opposite the origin of the path and therefore the point at which the braid interlaces are formed. The lower end of the mandrel terminates in a guide arm 53 extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom and then rearwardly and towards the outer end loop 14 of the guideway 13. In addition, alternate ones 21' of the carriers have relatively long guide posts 31 while the remaining alternate ones 21" of the carriers have relatively short guide posts. The relative lengths of the guide posts are such that the strands 29 of the high carriers 21 are guided over, and the strands of the low carriers 21 are guided under the guide arm 53 as the carriers enter the forward portion 23 of the central loop 17 of the guideway 13 from the outer end loop 14 thereof. The high carrier strands in passing over the guide 'arm S3 are thus wrapped about the lower end of the mandrel 51 as the carriers traverse the forward portion 23 of the central loop 17. The low carrier stands passing under the mandrel guide arm are intertwined in the conventional manner rearwardly of the mandrel. In this manner, alternate strands passing forwardly of the mandrel are wrapped therearound, as indicated at 54. All strands (high and low carrier) passing rearwardly of the mandrel are intertwined in the conventional manner. Thus, the central loops of alternate figure eight interlaces of the braid are enlarged in extending about the mandrel. The strands extended about the mandrel advance longitudinally upward therealong as the braid is pulled along its upwardly extending path.

rPheside 56 of the mandrel opposite side 52 is preferably forrned with a longitudinally extending groove 57 for receiving a cutter wheel 58, or equivalent strand cutting means. The cutter wheel is journalled upon a hanger 59 depending from the support structure 46 at a position wherein the sharpened cutting edge of the wheel extends .into the groove intermediate the opposite ends of the mandrel. Drive means 61 associated with the hanger 59 are coupled to the cutter wheel to rotate same. Thus, as the strands extending about the mandrel advance longitudinally upward, they are severed by the cutting wheel to thus form a cut pile 62.

The depth of the pile formed by the cut strands ertended about the mandrel S1 may be varied by interchanging mandrels of different size. In this regard reference is made to FIGURE 5, which illustrates a mandrel 51' having a greater distance between the sides 52', S6' thereof than that between the sides of the mandrel 51. The loops of the interlaces extending about mandrel 51 are thus enlarged to a greater extent than in the case where the mandrel 51 is employed. Thus, when the cutter wheel 58 severs the strands, a pile 62 of greater depth is obtained.

What is claimed is:

1. Pile braid forming apparatus comprising a table having a double figure eight guide way in the upper surface thereof, a plurality of carriers mounted upon said table in upright position for movement in said guide way, means for synchronously moving said carriers through said guide Way, strand dispensing means carried by said carriers for dispensing strands from the upper ends thereof, said dispensing means of adjacent carriers being alternately relatively long and short, pulling means disposed above said table for pulling said strands dispensed from the upper ends of said dispensing means along an upwardly extending path during movement of said carriers through said guide way, a mandrel mounted upon said table in an elevated position overlying a central portion of the central loop of said double figure eight guide way, said mandrel disposed parallel to said upwardly extending path closely adjacent same at a position between the path and one arcuate side of said central loop, said mandrel disposed with its lower end at a level where the Vstrands from said long dispensing means pass over and the strands from said short dispensing means pass under said mandrel, and cutter means engaging the opposite side of said mandrel from said upwardly extending path at a position intermediate t-he ends of said mandrel.

2. Pile braid forming apparatus according to claim l, further defined by said mandrel having a guide arm extending downwardly, forwardly, and to one side of said mandrel to a position wherein the strands dispensed from said long dispenser means are guided over and the strands dispensed from said short dispenser means are guided under said guide arm.

3. Pile braid forming apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by said carriers each having a base with an upright axle extending therefrom and receiving a bobbin of said strand, an upright guide post extending from said base adjacent the periphery thereof, said post having a feedthrough aperture intermediate the length thereof and a dispensing eye at its upper end, and a tension adjusting member slidably mounted on said post, said strand from said bobbin extending through said aperture, beneath said tension adjusting member, and upwardly through said eye, said posts of adjacent ones of said carriers being alternately relatively long and short and defining said relatively long and short dispensing means.

4. Pile braid forming apparatus according to claim 1, further defined by said mandrel having a longitudinal groovein said opposite -side thereof, and said cutter means comprising a cutter Wheel rotatably driven at a point wherein the periphery of the wheel extends into said groove intermediate the ends of said mandrel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner. T. PETRAKES, Examiner. 

1. A PILE BRAID FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING A TABLE HAVING A DOUBLE FIGURE EIGHT GUIDE WAY IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS MOUNTED UPON SAID TABLE IN UPRIGHT POSITION FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID GUIDE WAY, MEANS FOR SYNCHRONOUSLY MOVING SAID CARRIERS THROUGH SAID GUIDE WAY, STRAND DISPENSING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CARRIERS FOR DISPENSING STRANDS FROM THE UPPER ENDS THEREOF, SAID DISPENSING MEANS OF ADJACENT CARRIERS BEING ALTERNATELY RELATIVELY LONG AND SHORT, PULLING MEANS DISPOSED ABOVE SAID TABLE FOR PULLING SAID STRANDS DISPENSED FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS ALONG AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PATH DURING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIERS THROUGH SAID GUIDE WAY, A MANDREL MOUNTED UPON SAID TABLE INN AN ELEVATED POSITION OVERLYING A CENTRAL PORTION OF THE CENTRAL LOOP OF SAID DOUBLE FIGURE EIGHT GUIDE WAY, SAID MANDREL DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING PATH CLOSELY ADJACENT SAME AT A POSITION BETWEEN THE PATH AND ONE ARCUATE SIDE OF SAID CENTRAL LOOP, SAID MANDREL DISPOSED WITH ITS LOWER END AT A LEVEL WHERE THE STRANDS FROM SAID LONG DISPENSING MEANS PASS OVER AND THE STRANDS FROM SAID SHORT DISPENSING MEANS PASS UNDER SAID MENDREL, AND CUTTER MEANS ENGAGING THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID MANDREL FROM SAID UPWARDLY EXTENDING PATH AT A POSITION INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID MANDREL. 